The battles played across the false sky.
Citizens gathered in plazas, cafeterias, and transport terminals, their eyes glued to the glowing holoscreens that hovered above. Others tuned in from the wrist-screens embedded in their arm braces, watching as the Knights struck down the monstrous creatures threatening their world. Every angle was covered, every swing of a blade glorified in high-definition.
The people cheered.
Once again, their heros saved the day.
Above, slicing through the clouds, a black airship streaked toward the city. It bore one word on its chrome-plated side:
KNIGHTS
As it passed overhead, cheers erupted through the streets.
The ship approached the heart of Elyria and descended onto the glowing landing pad atop ORIZN's main tower—a sleek structure known as the ORIZN HEADQUARTERS.
The loading ramp hissed open. Krey stepped out first, expression unreadable. The rest followed: Cira, Tamie, and Jaylin. Workers stationed on the platform saluted as they passed, wearing dark grey tags on their uniforms—denoting their allegiance to ORIZN.
Without pause, the team entered a large circular chamber, stepping into a levitating transit platform known as the GravLift—a gravity-manipulating elevator. As the GravLift activated, they were lifted in total silence, the outer wall transparent. The panoramic view stretched across the glittering utopia of Elyria.
Below, hover-trams left lines of blue light between crystalline towers. Above, artificial clouds cast moving shadows over the bustling streets.
When the GravLift finally slowed, it opened into a grand hall.
A burst of clapping greeted them.
More workers in grey-tagged uniforms stood in formation, applauding the Knights as they stepped off. As usual, none of them reacted. This was just another day. Just another mission.
Armed guards, dressed in pristine black and blue exo-suits, escorted them down a long corridor, stopping at a set of polished silver doors.
Inside was The Prime Chamber—a circular room where the most powerful minds in Elyria convened. The table at its center was oval-shaped and trimmed in chrome. Five seats were occupied.
To the left sat the Sector Leaders:
Rakon of the East, flushed with frustration.
Naigel of the West, calm but stern.
To the right:
Onyl of the South, always with a mocking smile.
Novada of the North, sipping from a glass of red wine.
"I'm telling you, this is unacceptable!" Rakon snapped. "I need more soldiers. More drones. This is the third breach in my sector!"
Naigel leaned back, folding his arms. "You had your share of resources, Rakon. We were all given equal distribution last quarter. You spent yours on renovations."
Rakon's face turned red. "Fortifications! Not renovations!"
"Sureeee," Onyl drawled, lifting an eyebrow. "Because nothing says 'defense' like a giant fountain of yourself in the middle of your plaza."
"You're all missing the point," Novada cut in, her voice as cool as the wine she set down. "The breaches aren't just random anymore."
"The Dome is developing weak spots." She continued, circling her fingers around the mouth of her wine glass.
Her golden eyes fixed on the white high-back chair across from them. "Isn't that right, Director?"
The room went still.
A faint, rhythmic tapping could be heard—red-painted nails on an armrest.
Then the chair slowly turned.
Ice blue eyes met Novada's golden ones.
"Of course," she said, her voice velvet-smooth and laced with dangerous poise.
She smiled—perfect, straight white teeth behind plum-red lips. Her long, almost white-blonde hair flowed like silk down her regal white attire. There was no mistaking her.
She exuded power.
"I suppose that is a problem," she said with a note of mockery. "Maybe we were careless. Maybe we didn't make your sector's shield strong enough, hmm?"
Her gaze shifted to Rakon, and his soul nearly left his body.
"O-of course n-not! The others are right! Haha! I—I will personally invest my own Zentriums *[Elyrian currency] into fortifying it!" Rakon laughed nervously.
The Director stared for a beat longer, then clapped her hands sharply on the table.
"Novada. I can assure you, the Dome's shield has never been stronger." Novada only gave a sigh in response, not daring to question any further.
"Great! Then it's settled, yes?" Her lips stretching into a sinister grin.
All four leaders reluctantly nodded in unison.
Even though each controlled their own quadrant, there was no question of authority when it came to the Director.
Just then, the chamber doors slid open.
A slim man with slightly messy brown hair and darting eyes peeked in. "E-excuse me. Director... the Hunters have returned."
She gave him a glance. "Thank you, Malik."
"Let them in." she added, gently easing back into her chair.
"We're through here." She motioned her hand towards the exit.
The four Knights entered as the leaders were rising from their seats. Rakon's eyes brightened.
"Jaylin! How was it?"
Jaylin stood straighter. "Went great, Dad. We handled them. Smoothly." He offered a smug smile, omitting the part where he nearly got his head bitten of by a voidhound. Tamie scoffed and rolled her eyes, this was the first time he had forgotten to report his errors.
Rakon beamed, puffing with pride.
"When you return home, tell me all about it!" He tapped Jaylin on the shoulder as he made his way out with the other leaders.
The Knights lined up at the far end of the chamber, hands behind their backs. The Director rose slowly, her presence like gravity.
"Report."
Krey stepped forward.
"Void activity was detected in the East Sector at 14:42. Location was far from civilian zones—no risk to population or infrastructure.
One tear appeared, roughly 8 meters wide. Twenty-seven Voidhounds emerged over the course of ten minutes. All were neutralized.
No Knights were badly injured. Weapons functioned normally, with no technical issues reported.
Standard containment protocol was followed. Situation under control."
Krey gave a detailed recap of what happened, but he omitted the detail of the creature's strange focus.
The Director nodded slowly. "Does anyone have anything else to add?" The rest of the Knights shook their head as a no.
"Then you're all dismissed."
The others bowed slightly and filed out.
Krey remained, arms still behind his back. She tilted her head and squinted her eyes.
"I assume since you didn't leave, you have something to say?"
"Yes, i do." Krey stated, stepping closer. The Director quirked a brow, silently urging him to continue.
"At the beginning of the battle, one of the hounds appeared to look me. Its focus was... deliberate."
The Director's expression flickered for just a second.
"Looked at you, you say?" She folded her arms, sounding almost amused.
"Yes— it looked at me," Krey pressed forward, his voice low but deliberate.
The Director didn't speak right away. Her gaze sharp and unreadable beneath the cool lighting of the command room.
Silence pooled between them—thick, still, charged.
Krey didn't flinch. His stance remained firm, shoulders squared, eyes locked with hers.
It was subtle, but the moment felt like a challenge. Not one of defiance, but of conviction.
A quiet tension simmered, stretching long enough for the hum of nearby monitors to fill the space.
The Director's fingers tapped once on the sleek surface of the console beside her.
"And yet you reported no abnormalities," she said at last, her tone calm but clipped.
Krey nodded. "Because there weren't any. Formation held. Weapons were effective. No Knights were seriously injured. Voidhounds neutralized. Tear closed."
He let the facts speak for themselves. "The mission was clean."
"And yet, here we are" She stated.
"Hmm. Perhaps you're overanalyzing it." They're mindless beasts, Krey. They destroy anything in their path. That's all."
Then she walked away from her seat. "But there are more important matters. Walk with me."
She led him to the vast panoramic window at the front of the chamber.
The city of Elyria glowed in the distance—lights dancing, trams gliding, all beneath the protective dome.
She placed her hands behind her back.
"There's been word that the Resistance is gaining access to our resources. Especially... the corpses."
Krey's eyes narrowed.
"We don't know what their plan is..." The Director sighed.
"But stealing internal resources—and worse, tampering with Voidhound DNA—isn't just a violation of protocol."
She turned, placing a gloved hand gently on the tall glass window overlooking the inner sector of Elyria. Below, lights shimmered in perfect grid-like harmony. Order. Control. Peace—manufactured, protected.
"It's an act of treason."
The word hung in the air like frost, sharp and chilling.
For a moment, she said nothing more, eyes scanning the dome's shimmering barrier. Then she exhaled softly—almost imperceptibly.
"We've sacrificed too much for this city, Krey. Built it from ash and silence. Held the line while the rest of the world turned its back." Her fingers tapped the glass, once.
"Which is why I need someone I can trust. Someone with discipline, precision, loyalty."
A brief pause.
"I need you to investigate the matter. Quietly."
She finally turned, eyes locking with his.
"No one else is to know. Understood?"
Krey gave a short nod. "Understood Director."
Her lips parted into a pleased smile.
"Aw... that's no way to address me, is it?"
She stepped closer.
"Do it properly."
Her eyes scanned his face, searching for any emotion.
But as always, he remained unreadable.
He gave a subtle bow.
"Yes... Mother."
---
END OF CHAPTER.